Welcome to the official website of Hanover Youth Hockey Association, Inc., a non-profit organization located in Hanover, Massachusetts dedicated to the development of our youth in hockey excellence. Please send all mail to:
Hanover Youth Hockey Associ

HYHA MITE PROGRAM FOR 2014-2015

Overview of USA Hockey’s American Development Model
USA Hockey has developed a program called the American Development Model (ADM). The ADM focuses on long term athlete development and keeping kids interested in hockey, by utilizing age-appropriate training and skill development. At the Mite (8 & Under) level, the ADM focuses on fun and skill development through the use of games played on age-appropriate ice surfaces, i.e. cross ice. The concept of age appropriate playing surfaces is already employed by other sports, i.e. soccer, lacrosse, for the younger ages. Cross ice games are played 3 vs. 3 or 4 vs. 4 with goalies on ice surfaces that are divided into smaller areas more appropriate for the Mite age kids. Portable boards or bumpers are used to divide the ice surface into halves or thirds. Studies have found that by playing cross ice games at the younger ages, the kids significantly improve their hockey skills, have more quality puck touches and have more fun than by playing full-ice games. Also, dividing the ice into smaller areas allows more kids to be on the ice and involved at the same time. This model is used by some of the leading hockey nations in the world.

Benefits of Cross Ice

The size of the rink is in proportion with the size of the players.

Playing on a smaller rink results in increased puck possession time for each player.

Individual technical skills develop more quickly through close/tight action on the ice.

More frequent line changes in the game means more ice time for each player.

Line changes are made quickly, since the players are directly beside the playing surface.

Each player's activity increases greatly.

Scoring skills are enhanced since the players have more shooting opportunities.

The goalkeeper's reading of the game and reaction to changing game situations become more effective.

More repetition for goalkeepers.

The game is full of continuously changing situations.

The speed in playing situations increase, which will require quicker mental and physical reactions by the players.

Due to increased tempo, all of the team members take part in solving the playing situations, which leads to a sharing of responsibilities between players.

The feeling of being an important part of the action increases because of the small size of the rink.

Hockey sense, or understanding the principles of the game, is being developed at a young age.

There are no unnecessary breaks in the game (i.e. off-sides, icing).

Players and coaches can focus on skating and hockey skills, instead of positioning.

More kids will experience a feeling of success and will be excited and motivated to continue playing hockey.

Hockey will be more available, appealing and rewarding to a wider range of children and their parents.

2013/2014 USA/MA Hockey Requirements for Mites
USA Hockey and MA Hockey have mandated that all USA/MA Hockey registered programs comply with the ADM requirements for the Mite division for the 2014/2015 season and beyond. Hanover Youth Hockey, other Town programs and the Club programs are bound by the USA/MA Hockey requirements. MA Hockey has split the Mite division into two age classifications, a 6 & Under Division and a 7 & 8 Year Old Division. The 6 & Under Division must play all of their games on age appropriate ice surfaces, cross ice and reduced ice games. The 7 and 8 Year Old Division will play cross ice/ reduced ice games for the first half of the season through the end of 2014 and starting January 1, 2015 will be allowed to play 10 full ice games. Also, one full ice tournament is allowed after January 1, 2015.

2014/2015 Hanover Mite Program
Hanover Youth Hockey’s Mite program must comply with USA and MA Hockey requirements for the 2014/2105 season. Hanover’s Mite Division structure for next season will be as follows:

6 & Under Division (Players born in 2008 and later)

This Program is for players born in 2008 and 2009 with some level of skating ability.

The 2014-15 season for the U6 level will begin in September and run through March. The Program’s goal will be to promote passion for hockey through a fun atmosphere that emphasizes skating and hockey skill development. The Program is based on USA Hockey's American Development Model (ADM).

The Program will begin with 12 weekly group practices at Bavis Arena in Rockland, beginning the first week of September and running through November. The practices will offer a variety of drills, small area games, and fun games. They will utilize "station-based" efficiency to promote constant movement and a high coach to player ratio.

A 15 game "In House" season will begin after the 12 week practice session. All games will be on Saturdays and will be played at the Mini Rink at the Bog in Kingston.

Players enrolled in the U6 Program will also take part in the HYHA weekly skills program throughout the season run by O'Sullivan Hockey as well as "Summer Cross-Ice" for all registered players.

If you have any questions, please contact Andy Pevarnek, HYHA U6 Director, at
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7 and 8 Year Old Division (Players born in 2006 and 2007)

Hanover will have A, B and C teams.

A and B teams will play in the South Shore Conference. C team(s) will play in the Yankee Conference.

Teams will play 16 weeks of a mixture of cross ice and reduced ice surface games. Games will be 4 vs. 4 with goalies. Portable boards will be used to divide the playing surfaces at most rinks.

For the second half of the season, starting Jan. 1, 2014, teams will play 10 full ice games, including playoffs. A, B and C divisions will be tiered as necessary, depending on the number of teams.

Playoffs will be grouped by record, top 4 teams will play each other, next 4 teams will play each other, etc.

Teams will be allowed 1 full ice tournament of 5 games maximum after January 1, 2015. Teams may play an unlimited number of cross ice tournaments throughout the year.

The cross ice/reduced ice games will provide a focus on skating and skill development through the use smaller ice surfaces resulting in more quality puck touches. The second half of the season for the older Mites will allow them to utilize this skill development in some full ice games. USA/MA Hockey and HYHA agree that focusing on fun and increased skill development at the younger ages through age appropriate training and games will produce more quality hockey players in the future.

If you have any questions, please contact Bob Melone, HYHA Mite Director at

Here is the link to the USA Hockey ADM Kids webpage which has more information and videos of cross ice games and practices. http://www.usahockey.com/ADMKids.aspx. Also,below are a couple of videos of Hanover Mite players participating in cross ice games. The portable boards were installed at center ice and two games were run simultaneously.